The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s

While ’80s pop culture is largely remembered for its frivolity, the social unrest that stirred beneath the decade’s brightly colored gloss and greed resulted in not just the guilt-driven good intentions of enterprises like the star-studded USA for Africa, but a generation of artists whose music genuinely reflected the state of the world. They say all politics is local, and the incisive perspectives of the decade’s defining acts were likewise geographical: Released in the U.S. in January of 1980, the Clash’s seminal London Calling ushered in a new decade with disgruntled punk rock from across the pond, while U2’s early focus was on the violence in their homeland of Ireland. Back in the U.S., Springsteen spoke to the struggles and dreams of the working class, and Michael Stipe began using his increasing rock-star status to react to the rising conservatism in American politics. By the end of the decade, the Reagan era’s biggest pop stars (Michael, Janet, Madonna) were transformed into cultural critics too, reflecting on poverty, race relations, and what Prince called “a big disease with a little name.” Though women were entering the workforce in record numbers, the surprising (even to us) lack of female artists on our list points to a music industry that, perhaps, needed a few more years to catch up to the feminist movement, but the women who left the most indelible marks bravely pushed the boundaries of sexuality and gender. And as for the just-burgeoning hip-hop genre, acts like Public Enemy and De La Soul not only had a conscience—they served as ours. Sal Cinquemani

100

Soul II Soul, Club Classics Vol. One

Less a product of its own decade than a prophecy of the next one, Soul II Soul’s debut presaged the development of downtempo and trip-hop by blending the seductive depth of R&B with reggae, funk, and hip-hop, all while remaining firmly planted in the disco-soul aesthetic of U.K. house. Groundbreaking sound design notwithstanding, Club Classics Vol. One also showcases, in the three-headed vamping of Caron Wheeler, Rose Windross, and Doreen Waddell, one of the finest soul-diva lineups ever to grace a dance album. And what’s more impressive? That the album’s classic singles (“Fairplay,” “Keep On Movin’,” and “Back to Life”) don’t sound anything like one another, or that, two decades of girl groups later, they still sound totally unique? Matthew Cole

99

Slick Rick, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick

Rap’s premier storyteller, London-born Richard Walters burst onto the scene in 1988 with The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, an album with such a unique style that it changed hip-hop. Rick weaves compelling narratives from the first and third person, using the Queen’s English and a devilish sense of humor to make each of these 12 tracks quirky and utterly irresistible listens. Relishing in whimsical wordplay, Rick adopts a hilarious high-pitched squeal for the dialogue of his female characters, and makes shifts in style when stepping into alter egos like the Ruler and MC Ricky D. Of course, there are times when Rick’s tales can fringe on vulgar and misogynistic, but his storytelling prowess is second to none. Huw Jones

98

X, Los Angeles

A punk-rock power duo making strong use of their male/female dynamic, Exene Cervenka and John Doe fronted X’s roaring songs with a vibrant vocal and lyrical approach, which helped make them the creative standard bearer of the nascent L.A. scene. Beefing up the usual punk attack with a sound hearkening back to several decades of rock, from Chuck Berry to Blondie, the band went beyond the usual three-chord dynamic, forming an album that’s both a paean to a fading city and an excoriation of its faults, all burning trash, clumped hair and Hollywood Boulevard sleaze, perfectly summed up by the burning logo of the album’s cover. Jesse Cataldo

97

George Clinton, Computer Games

George Clinton’s solo debut begins, almost oddly, with the former Parliament and Funkadelic frontman putting on his clothes. But the song’s message is a naked one: the promise of a throw down—to bring on the funk, the soul, and the psychedelic like no one’s business. What follows is an almost spotless blitzkrieg of jams that run the gamut from the rousing (“One Fun at a Time”), to the poignantly metaphoric (“Free Alternations”), to the playfully infantile (“Pot Sharing Tots”). “Loopzilla” is a master class in sampladelic overload, and the title tune suggests Kraftwerk put through a P-Funk filter, but it’s the synth-funk “Atomic Dog” that remains the album’s triumph, an unbelievably improvised totem to Clinton’s own stray cock strut, and one that makes a world without Adina Howard and Snoop Dogg seem impossible. Ed Gonzalez

96

Talk Talk, The Colour of Spring

For many bands, transitional albums are most valuable for establishing context between distinct phases of a career arc. Talk Talk’s The Colour of Spring, however, stands as one of the band’s most satisfying standalone albums, even though it’s a clear bridge between their origins in new wave and the post-rock of their later albums. Songs like “Life’s What You Make of It” and “I Don’t Believe in You” strike a perfect and often beautiful balance between Talk Talk’s extraordinary gifts for memorable pop melodies with a newfound experimental bent that finds them replacing the synths and guitars of the era with flourishes of organ, sax, and even a children’s choir. Jonathan Keefe

95

Tears for Fears, Songs from the Big Chair

In which an attempted primal scream ends up coming out as an incredibly pitch-perfect crying jag. (Boy, am I glad the word “emo” wasn’t around in 1985, though Richard Kelly’s use of the dreamy “Head Over Heels” in his frowny sci-fi teen-angst epic Donnie Darko paid back that particular favor with interest.) British synth-pop act Tears for Fears’ follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Hurting may have seemed a sellout at the time, but heard anew today, the cathartic, shuffling hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” seems like one of the great indictments of the materialism and false triumphalism of the decade. Eric Henderson

94

U2, War

The aptly titled War found U2 not only diving into the jagged terrain of British politics, but likewise, developing a harsher, needle-nosed sound. The album finds the band in attack mode, where on standout tracks like “Sunday Bloody Sunday” an instrument as refined as the violin takes turns playing electrical whip, wailing animal, and battle cry across the song’s marching protest beat. This is U2 at their angriest, each piece infused with a sense of dark urgency that reaches a frothy head on “New Year’s Day.” Bono’s resolution, “I will begin again,” is perhaps indicative of the spiritual introspection to come on The Unforgettable Fire and The Joshua Tree, but for War, the music is as immediate, violent, and striking as its subject matter. Kevin Liedel

93

The Fall, This Nation’s Saving Grace

This Nation’s Saving Grace is the most accessible release from a band that can, at times, border on the completely inaccessible. Mark E. Smith makes no attempt to curtail his ominous murmuring, and his bandmates are as prone as ever to prickly songcraft and thrashing, but the grooves and melodies here showcase the Fall at their least abrasive. With “Barmy,” “What You Need,” and “Spoilt Victorian Child,” the group strikes the perfect balance between bilious dirge and subversive pop, while “Paintwork” is a charmingly tongue-in-cheek homage to ’60s pop. A little bit of melody goes a long way for the Fall, making this a quintessential album in a unique and strangely interesting canon. Jones

92

My Bloody Valentine, Isn’t Anything

It’s easy to dismiss Isn’t Anything as Loveless-lite, but My Bloody Valentine doesn’t attempt anything quite as epic or ambitious on their debut as they would just two years later. But even when they’re less grandiose, the shoegazing pioneers’ music is just as fascinating and hypnotic. Guitarist and songwriter-in-chief Kevin Shields employs reverb, feedback, pitch bending, and heavy distortion throughout, creating music that’s capable of simultaneously soundtracking our most ethereal dreams and most violent nightmares. Isn’t Anything beautifies all that should be ugly, and deserves a spot as a lo-fi masterpiece in its own right. Jones

91

Meat Puppets, Meat Puppets II

Unfortunately for brothers Cris and Curt Kirkwood, it took a guest appearance alongside Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged in 1993 to immortalize their legacy, a feat which 1984’s Meat Puppets II was fully capable of doing on its own merits. “Plateau,” “Oh, Me,” and “Lake of Fire”—the three songs that Cobain performed with the band—are especially alluring examples of the group’s cowpunk formula, and they strike similar success with the alluring “We’re Here” and endlessly infectious “The Whistling Song.” And with instrumental tracks “Aurora Borealis” and “I’m A Mindless Idiot,” the group is still in excellent form, serving up front-porch psychedelica of the highest order. Jones

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Michael Jackson´s Thriller might be a successful album of the 80s, but it does not represent the 80s musically.

Posted by CelticBhoy on 2017-07-08 03:39:21

Lists like this are always horrible when voted for by Americans because they simply don´t have a clue what the 80s were all about. And not only the 80s by the way.

Posted by CelticBhoy on 2017-07-08 03:36:28

No Def Leppard, No Van Halen, No Bon Jovi. No Journey, No Phil Collins? Yet this list includes several artist that barely even made a blip on anyones radar in the 80's...Cocteau Twins? Grace Jone? Eric B. & Rakim? Seriously?

Posted by robarino on 2017-06-15 19:06:57

Terrible list. Felt like there were at least 2 more Prince albums on each page. Sorry he's dead or whatever, but his music has always ben crap.

Posted by Oscar Albretsen on 2017-02-16 02:23:42

"Lest we forget from years of grotesque eccentricity." It seems impossible for critics speak of Michael Jackson's albums without talking about his personal life. All these attempts to overthrow this man are ridiculous.

Posted by dnnhall on 2016-10-11 18:47:46

Surprised they couldn't find room for Bowies let's dance. Such a great album from start to finish.

Posted by Mike Jones on 2016-04-26 01:42:17

I'm a massive Kate Bush fan and that's no obstacle to respecting Madonna. Don't be fooled by the media commotion. Check out Bedtime Story or Has To Be. There's deep creativity and thought going on there.

Posted by Omus on 2016-02-21 13:02:03

Madonna is (or was, the past few years have been depressing) first and foremost an artist. She also happened to have a keen grasp of capitalism so knew how to position herself. This why Madonna has been so commercially colossal but the reason why her work has stayed with people is because it's much deeper than it's generally given credit for. She's the real deal.

Posted by Omus on 2016-02-21 12:58:42

Disintegration is good but one of the two best albums of the 80's no, The Joshua Tree, Born In The U.S.A,...But Seriously, No Jacket Required,Introspective,Actually,Master Of Puppets are much better candidates

Posted by Lucas Lima Batista Lima on 2016-02-09 00:31:28

Many albums of Kate Bush in my opinion and 1 in better place than The Joshua Tree no wayAnd without "No Jacket Required" 85 and "...But Seriously" 89 of Phil Collins classics of 80's,"One" of Bee Gees,"Introspective" 88 of Pet Shop Boys.

Posted by Lucas Lima Batista Lima on 2016-02-09 00:24:50

Without Phil Collins,Bon Jovi..

Posted by Lucas Lima Batista Lima on 2016-02-09 00:17:09

The Joshua Tree at 23 very poor place at 3 at least very bad album in better place than that,And without The Unforgetable Fire, Just one album of Metallica What about Ride The Lightning,Kill Em All & ...And justice for all??? the best Master Of Puppets but at 90'th hahahah in the 10 at least WTF???, Actually of Pet Shop Boys and Introspective 88???, many albums of Kate Bush, R.E.M, New Order desnecessary and others and R,EM,Bush and New Order in better place than The Joshua Tree NO!!!! Without Phil Collins,Bon Jovi

Posted by Lucas Lima Batista Lima on 2016-02-09 00:16:28

Bad?

Posted by Sir.MvpManiacs on 2016-01-03 13:47:28

The second I opened this, I knew that Thriller would be first. Most of that album sounds kind of pathetic now.

Posted by Ronuldo on 2015-12-30 21:40:05

I came here just to say the same thing. Pitchfork and Slant were seriously slacking and lacking in these lists.

Posted by Matt on 2015-10-04 03:46:59

Have to agree with INXS Kick.

Posted by Daniel Johnson on 2015-05-28 12:48:33

Massive failure. Not one metal band not named Metallica or Guns 'N' Roses on here? How very trendy and in line with what you've been told to respect. Motley Crue and Def Leppard, at least, were for real and making sounds that sold out entire football stadiums. Pyromania, Dr. Feelgood and Hysteria deserve places on this list.

Posted by Daniel Johnson on 2015-05-28 12:47:53

Where's Comsat Angels and the Chameleons?

Posted by kai on 2015-03-04 16:29:47

Another terrible list by slant. I thought when I first saw this that slant must have been around in the 80s. Alas, no such luck. I mean who even made this? Grace Jones' Nightclubbing? Wha?

It reads like an amateur's list in the midst of 1989 rather than something produced from historical hindsight. No Husker Du? You all must be high.

Posted by jeff loggens on 2014-12-20 23:03:26

NEW GOLD DREAM '81-'82-'83-'84 IS MISSING!!!

Posted by Diego Canale on 2014-11-04 18:38:46

Tell me I missed The Police on this list. There can't not have been Synchronicity here somewhere - I scrolled past it, right?

Posted by Kevin Wilson on 2014-10-06 21:49:16

where on earth is prefab sprout? paddy mcaloon is the most gifted songwriter of his generation, a wonderfully versatile artist, just take a look at his chord charts, melodies and lyrcis. steve mqueen, langley park, protest songs and swoon should be on there. Not to mention how fast they progressed as a band. Sick and tired of them being shun by lesser english acts like new order and the smiths just because they wrote 'the king of rock n roll' which is a great song if you listen to what its about. Whilst other acts had fizzled out by the end of the 80's prefab went on to make jodan the comeback in 1990, one of the most inspired, swirling, ambitious albums ever made in pop music, right up there with sgt peppers folks.Just go listen to pearly gates and be flawed by its enigmatic beauty 'Naked and afraid, we crawl on all fours'

Posted by dave on 2014-10-05 08:53:06

As much as I love this list I have some complaints:

Kate Bush - "The Dreaming" is by far her greatest album. It should've been higher than "The Sensual World" and even "Hounds of Love"

Janet Jackson - "Rhythm Nation 1814" is much better than "Control". Both records are great though.

The omission of Yaz's Upstairs at Eric's is surprising. Such a brilliant, effortless pop masterpiece that sounds more modern today then most of the already-dated pop music on the airwaves. Alison Moyet's voice was such an integral part of any music buff who remembers the Reagan era.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-08-27 23:57:20

Nice revelation there, seannessman. :) The combination of pretty darn great music and her impact she has had on culture and entertainment have made her quite a force.

No-Personality- "Live to Tell" deserves it, as well. I wonder how many entries she and His Royal Badness have on the singles list.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-08-22 08:01:59

Replayed True Blue about a month after this list was published... I still think the last 2 songs were not really good but, they're the only filler and all things considered, not as problematic as the last 3 songs on Like a Virgin. I was wrong, True Blue really is incredible. Much better than I remembered it. And, nearly all 5 of its' singles deserve placement on the Best Singles of the 80's list (currently in progress). (I'd actually take "True Blue" over "Live to Tell," slightly, but I firmly believe "Open Your Heart," "La Isla Bonita," and "Papa Don't Preach" deserve to make the list.)

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-08-20 14:14:07

None of Madonna's albums are better than "The Dreaming" or any other album from Kate Bush or Laurie Anderson.

She(and her army of producers) can't rank along with those brilliant women.

I personally don't think Madonna is even worthy to be on a list from the best of the 80's.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-07-20 13:44:33

Some years ago, when I heard people talking about Madonna, I thought she was a really commercial, manipulative and un - serious singer. Well, that was really stupid of me back then, when I heard about all the controversies I attributed them to her cocky, arrogant manner. But that all changed last year, when I discovered her 80s and 90s music. Like a Prayer and Ray of Light, even Erotica are masterpieces, however hard I wanted to deny it, her music is iconic. I come to really like her, her music. I read a lot about her life, her road to stardom, her fierceness and refusal to be a pushover. And compared to the bubblegum pop of the late 90s, and the hip - hop, frivolous dance music of the present day, her music is so much better aesthetically and can remain in your soul for a long time. People may say commercialism and business make bad music. Madonna has proven the opposite, like she's done so many times. She is no doubt the biggest selling female artists, but she is still up there with true singers like Aretha, the Beatles, Michael...Finally I believe her place in this ranking is well deserved. If anyone questions that, they are just fuss - maker without even listening a whole Madonna's album.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-06-25 19:23:51

I sort of agree about Like a Prayer, Viola. Except that I think "Love Song" is slightly better than "Keep It Together." But I think "Promise to Try" is easily the weakest song on the album.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-06-09 12:34:48

Being a huge Pop music fan I really love this list. The only disappointment - No Whitney Houston? That\'s a laugh, her music changed the whole world in the 80\'s, her angelic voice was probably the biggest inspiration for all vocalists. Also I would add Sade\'s Diamond Life, Belinda Carlisle\'s Heaven On Earth, Bryan Adams\'s Reckless.

Nice to see Janet Jackson\'s albums but Rhythm Nation 1814 should have been over Control - much deeper, emotional and inspirational music.

Great to see Faith by George Michael - he was so cool back then.

I love all 3 Tina Turner\'s albums in the 80\'s but Break Every Rule (1986) is my favorite.

Madonna is my favorite female singer, she was real Bomb in the 80\'s. Like A Prayer is masterpiece of course but I love True Blue the most. Nothing can beat brilliance of \"La Isla Bonita\", \"Papa Don\'t Preach\", \"Open Your Heart\" and \"Live To Tell\". I love every single track on True Blue while classic Like A Prayer had 2 very weak songs - awful Love Song and mediocre at worst Promise to Try.

MJ\'s Thriller is overrated, it\'s good but still overrated

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-06-06 04:49:11

While I am happy to see Kraftwerk on here (Computer World is my personal favorite Kraftwerk album as well), Tears for Fears is painfully absent. :( But as I've read the comments, I see how the list was made.. Whatever.

I do have to agree, and I LOVE MJ, that Thriller should NOT be #1, it is not in any way shape or form the best album or even pop album of the 80's. I can only listen to half of the tracks on a regular basis, the rest is filler. Sorry. Bad, as inconsistent as it may be, is a much better album in general.

I also think Dinosaur Jr. would have been good to include on here as well... But that's okay.

Oh and I agree on the female biased, and guess what, I'm a girl. Sorry, but the best music of the 80's was male, in general, and yes, I've listened to all of Janet's 80's albums (and I love Janet!), as well as Madonna's (True Blue, sorry not a good inclusion on this list), Cyndi Lauper's debut, The Bangles "A Different Light", etc, etc, and sorry, none of those albums were that great even Like a Prayer isn't an amazing album, its definitely Madonna's best 80's album (and my favorite album of hers), but its still not totally consistent in quality.

So, there you have it, I agree with the dudes, and I HAVE listened to those albums and I'm a female.

Why do people have to be typecasted as either loving Top 40 "mainstream" music or music "nerds" who view music as art?

Most people I know are not one or the other. In the 80s, I loved the Pixies, Kate Bush, The Smiths, Kraftwerk, and Skinny Puppy, but I also loved Prince and early Michael Jackson. The inabiliy to regognize the brilliance of Prince or Thriller is a serious flaw in anyone who pretends to know something about music (in my humble opinion).

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-31 13:00:51

On the whole, this is a very, very good list. I agree with at least 80%. I also agree that Thriller has to be number 1. It is such a wonderful, deeply entertaining achievement (a near perfect record).

One notable missing entry is The Hardline According to Terence Trent d'Arby which many of us thought (erroneously) would launch a very long, successful career by a quite brilliant artist.

I also thought the Police would be more prominent on the list. But well done nonetheless.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-31 10:55:34

Joe Jackson's Night and Day was missing from your list.

This album harkened back to musical styles everyone thought were long - dead and at the same time captured the mood of the early 80's perfectly.

I could go on, but I'll just say it should have been in your top 10.

Posted by j238 on 2012-03-26 03:35:16

May I be so bold to suggest that leaving out The Chameleons, "Script of the Bridge", is an error that could only come from simply being unaware of their existence?

This is what allmusic had to say about this LP, which I think is quite an accurate summary:

"With two years, numerous radio sessions, and incessant gigging under their belts since their debut single, "In Shreds," the Chameleons came to the studio determined to make a great first album with Script of the Bridge. To say they succeeded would be like saying Shakespeare did pretty well with that one Hamlet play of his. Script remains a high - water mark of what can generally be called post - punk music, an hour's worth of one amazing song after another, practically a greatest - hits record on its own..."

Do yourself a favour. Get a copy of this LP and discover how wonderful music really can be.

Posted by lev_lafayette on 2012-03-23 06:34:46

Well, since it kinda looks like everything that can be said's been said...

What about a Best Horror Films of the 80's list?

And 90's, of course? (Somebody at Slant want to tell me how it's possible you guys go to the 90's for 2 Best - of articles and then go back to the Aughts?)

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-19 14:31:05

Sorry, bub. London Calling was released in 1979. If you're going to bitch about that, then list some albums from 1990.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-17 20:09:31

Wow.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-12 17:17:40

Dear Ed Gonzolaz,

Thank you for singling me out, this isnt sarcastic, I think its quite awesome to interact with someone who put this list together. I do, however, take issue with some of the things you attributed to me. You said I needlessly brought Britney Spears into the conversation. All I said was that ranking Madonna ahead of Joy Division would be like ranking Spears over Neutral Milk Hotel. Madonnas better, but thats an apt similie. I happen to be a pretty big Madonna fan actually and an ardent feminist. You seem to be saying I am somehow mysoginistic for questioning if you legitamatley think J.Jackson deserves her spot(s) but I feel by questioning this I was being fair, and in no way sexist. I simply think its more sexist to favor woman than to omit them altogether. Whether you want to admit it or not, the ranking of some of these pop acts is questionable - it seems like they are there to cause controversy "Hey did you see Janet Jackson is better that Joy Division!" If this isnt the case, i sincerly apologize. I also think this comment by you : "and all you do is expose your contempt for pop music, and, to a certain extent, pussy as well" is pretty misoginistic. "Pussy"? Come on dude. I am going to credit you here for being cleverly ironic. I love women. I love women in music. I am sorry I had temerity to question your methods. And I do cop to being a completly rock - centric critic. That being said, i love the site, love the list, love that you got involved if your offer of employment was sincere (!) I wold love to take you up on it. Not only do I have a Master's in English, but I am a walking rock encyclopedia.

- Sincerly,

Ostich Lover (Jimmy)

PS - Bleach is the seminal album by the most important and influencial American band in the last 20 years (ever?) and it should make it out of respect. And you got me, never heard a Cindy Lauper album in its entirety! Love the Bangles though.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-12 11:28:40

I have almost nothing to say about this list. (Other than: PLEASE tell me a Best Singles will soon follow.) But...are we to assume that this list is anticipating a Republican will win the November election?

Oh, and...what's up with everyone wanting a Best Films list of the 90's and 80's? Wouldn't television be more interesting and/or challenging?

As for my opinions on the albums, I have very few. But here they are: I agree with Pretty Hate Machine being placed too high on the list and with Ed on Like a Prayer. I'm also surprised by True Blue making the list at all, although my mother and I both agree "White Heat" is fantastic. But..."Jimmy Jimmy" is not better than Like a Virgin's "Over and Over." Anyway, because of the tackiness of that and "Love Makes the World Go Round," I personally would have preferred the album not make the list, in favor of something like The Sugarcubes' Life's Too Good (less filler) getting its' slot. I prefer Head Over Heels to Treasure. And...I haven't actually gone through Private Dancer, but Break Every Rule is just about my favorite album of the entire decade.

So, I want to say I know how unbelievably subjective these sorts of lists are. I will never get why Rhythm Nation 1814 gets so much praise. To my ears, the only songs that truly stand out are "Come Back to Me" and "Love Will Never Do (Without You)." The rest sound exactly the same. Except "Black Cat," but...does anyone really like that song? I gather Madonna's self - titled is to this list what Erotica was to the 90's list. The underdog album arguing that people really loved most of the songs on it. It's about time "Think of Me" (and "I Know It") were called perfection.

And I noticed someone mentioned Tunnel of Love...I actually have a copy of that at my home but have never listened to it. Just wanted to bring it up to say that the song is easily my favorite of Springsteen's. I don't have a clue how the song is regarded now, if it's generally anywhere near as beloved as anything from Born in the USA to the fans but to me, it will always be his best.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-11 20:15:26

Ed, I may be a guy but I also like pop (I even like Britney freakin' Spears!) and female artists as much as any Slant writer. PJ Harvey and St. Vincent's albums were my Top 2 favorite albums from last year (Lykke Li was another favorite, as well), Robyn's 'Body Talk' was my favorite album of 2010 and Janelle Monae and Joanna Newsom were both in my Top 10 from that year. Likewise, Björk, Joanna Newsom, M.I.A. and PJ Harvey all made some of my favorite albums of the 00s. Björk, Lauryn Hill, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey and Fiona Apple made some of my favorite albums of the 90s, so I kind of resent your implication that I'm being misogynist and rock - centric.

I just don't think that, with a couple of exceptions, female artists in the 80s are of the same quality as the ones I mentioned above.

I think it's fair that if I find Janet Jackson ranking higher than Pixies quite baffling, I should be able to express it and other instances in which I feel the list is more favored towards female artists than it should be.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-11 13:20:47

Can y'all please do a Best Films of 1990s?

Posted by GayBabyBoy on 2012-03-11 12:40:48

Like a lot of music lovers, I tend to put way too much stock in lists such as this one. I like to see my tastes validated by critics, so it's not surprising that I was disappointed to see a front - to - back perfect album like "Daydream Nation" at a relatively love number 30. However, Pitchfork has me covered there, so it's not worth complaining about.

I really don't see what's so terrible or frustrating in acknowledging that most of the best music in the 80s were made by males.

I guess this guy is blissfully unaware that Sonic Youth, Pixies, Talking Heads and other bands who featured prominently on this list have female members. It reminds me of old - timey racist Pat Buchanan's comment that there is nothing wrong with bolstering the historical achievements of white men over non - whites, almost all of our nation's historical achievements were created by white men! Some people need to stop and think about why music primarily concerning the female experience is considered "lesser" art and thematically more frivolous that music written from the male perspective. That, however, would require more than a knee - jerk reaction of "but my favorite album is not ranked high enough!!"

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-11 12:37:06

ostrichlover, your comments are very juvenile.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-11 09:56:27

great points, Ed, I've honestly felt silly about how fanboy - ish my post read ever since I put it up. I know I MEANT it in the spirit of "this is what I'd have on my list and I'm surprised you didn't," but unfortunately my words read a bit like the work of an overbearing dimwit. I just thought that with the wonderfully provocative counter - intuition this site often provides, the final 20 would have had some interesting curveballs. But one man's curveball is another's staid sacred cow, and anyway who cares, it was a treat to read so many well written capsule reviews of a bunch of great (and not so great) records, and have some fun trying to predict where it'd go. So I apologize for posting hastily and somewhat idiotically.

That said...Swans should have been on the list, dammit!

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-10 22:58:58

I\'ve been biting my tongue for a few days reading some of these comments, and I know at least one of my fellow contributors will shake his head after seeing that I\'ve un - bit it, but this is getting perverse. Do some of you actually need to be filled in on the details of how these lists are put together? I mean, do you think I walked into the Slant office one day and said, \"Hey, I\'m feeling that Purple Rain should come at number two and that we should maybe leave out Bleach and give Janet Jackson two spots.\" You guys aren\'t noobs. Some seven, eight people contributed to this list, all very intelligent and knowledgeable people when it comes to music, and all with very diverse tastes. Everyone contributes a ranked ballot and the results are averaged. Period. Everyone\'s vote counts the same. No preferential treatment.

I can tell you that I think the wrong X album got on this list, that Graceland has no business being on a list that doesn\'t also include Los Lobos, that Like a Prayer ranked too high, Pet Shop Boys too low, that Little Creatures should have made it (and high), that the exclusion of the Au Pairs and the Pogues broke my heart, but at the end of the day I\'m really proud of this list. I\'m surprised that it leaned so heavily toward rock, that it featured titles that have long had the respect of Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and my freshman - year R.A., but also said: Hey, let\'s let pop music into the room. The implication that we tried to \"over - compensate\" by including pop music or female artists just for the sake of representation is as offensive to me as the suggestion that Thriller received the number one spot because it\'s the biggest selling album of all time. Seriously, you guys—and I say guys because I know no girl would say half the shit I\'ve been reading here—must not know anything about us if you think we equate commercial viability with artistic credibility. Every album got on this list made it on fair and square. That we\'re called out for including Grace Jones while other pubs aren\'t taken to task for excluding her simply proves the rock - centric elitism and, sorry, bald - faced misogyny that clouds music criticism, then and now.

To ostrichlover: Believe me, I respect that you\'re reading the site, but if I had to speculate about your relationship to music, given the flippancy of some of your comments, I would say that you have never actually listened to a Madonna album from beginning to end (and, mind you, I say that as someone who thinks only one Madonna album deserves that courtesy), but for reasons that would make even a Pitchfork editor yawn. You signal out Tina Turner, the Bangles, Cyndi Lauper (oblivious to her very high reputation even in rock circles—just ask Robert Christgau), Janet Jackson, Madonna, needlessly bring Britney Spears into the conversation, and all you do is expose your contempt for pop music, and, to a certain extent, pussy as well. Love it, \'cause some of it doesn\'t bite.

Also, by the way, Bleach received no votes. And last time I checked, I wasn\'t aware if it having the canonical status your ardent reaction to its exclusion suggests (don\'t even think it made Pitchfork\'s 80s list). And if you would like to ensure that the little - known and little - respected Beatles do figure into our \'60s list, perhaps you can start writing for us and be asked to contribute a ballot when the time comes.

Posted by Jonathan Keefe on 2012-03-10 21:42:35

There's an album not on the list that I feel deserves to be mentioned that is:

1. one of the best synth - pop records to come from the decade

2. an album that influenced the merging of electronica with Soul/R&B singing in the UK, which continues to this day

3. a showcase for one of the best female singers of the decade

I'm talking about "Upstairs at Eric's" by Yaz.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-10 21:15:55

When it came to thursday and Bleach wasnt on the list yet, I was actually quite satisfied that it would be in the top 20. That has to be the most glaring - and ridiculous - omission from this list. IT would be like having a 60s list without Meet the Beatles. Shocking. (well as far as someone can be shocked by something so unimportant)

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-10 20:13:58

To further what you are saying, isnt ranking female artists higher in an attempt to make a more femalecentric list kind of the exact opposite of feminism? If you want to be legitamatley fair and even, then you should be more happy if there were only one woman on the list and she really deserved it, than if there were ten or twelve on here just because they are girls. I mean, what other possible reason could you have for putting Tina Turner and Ciny Lauper or even the Bangles on this list? ITs actually sexist and insulting that they are on the list. I have spent my entire life studying pop music, and never, ever have I heard a knowledgable music fan rank Janet Jackson over the Pixies. It is absurd. No one who actually went to the trouble of listening to every record on this list would think that.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-10 20:12:04

SlantedEnchanted, I mean 'feminist leanings' as in ranking Janet Jackson higher than Pixies (which isn't even in the Top 10, unthinkable when comprising best of the 80s albums lists). I mean, I'm all for giving female artists and pop (Kate Bush and Prince are geniuses and deserve all their praise) their due but sometimes things continually make these lists because they REALLY deserve it. And it's not a white or a rock thing but simply because about quality. Dolittle usually is near the top of these lists because it's a landmark while Control, for all its relative virtues, really isn't.

And Tracy Chapman's self - titled is great and a welcome addition but there's no need to over - compensate with Tina Turner, TWO Janet albums and Grace Jones.

I really don't see what's so terrible or frustrating in acknowledging that most of the best music in the 80s were made by males.

If you want to litter music lists with female artists that's what the 90s are for, a decade which indeed saw a richness of female artists but here it seems like a forced attempt to push female artists whose music for the most part isn't really as good as most male artists on this list. It's like picking the riches of true slim pickings.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-10 11:56:44

I guess you could be right JRHG1, I just dont take crappy dance pop that seriously. I know for a fact Madonna is a more 'respectable' artist than Spears, its just, I don't think either of them deserves to be on lists like this, which should be for music 'nerds' not the kind of people who buy Thriller and Madonna. Pitchfork has Thriller 30th on their list - thats realistic, it recognizes its (or quincy jone's ) talents, but realizes that actual music is better.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-10 07:30:59

Madonna not much better than Britney Spears? What planet are you residing on, exactly, ostrichlover? :) What Madonna has done in her work in regards to gender, racial, religious, sexual and social mores is unparalleled in the last 30 years. Spears always has been more of a manufactured act, one without much of a point of view on anything - which Madonna never has been. So, not sure how you could ever compare the two, other than that they both make pop music and have been hugely successful(and that Madonna obviously is one of Spears' biggest idols). And, you must not follow best - of lists and such, because Madonna has been one of the most acclaimed acts among females. It's odd when she doesn't factor on a major list.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-10 06:05:23

Furthermore, Tina Turner? Seriously? This list is interesting because it tries to please everyone. In my opinion whoever votes for Grammys covers popular opinion, and most people are idiots. Therefore, lists like this need to be by rock critics for people who are the more highbrow of listeners. But, just for example, what serious music listener have you ever met that thinks that Madonna is better than the pixies? My top ten 1. Daydream Nation 2. Disintigration 3. The Queen is Dead 4. Pauls Boutique 5, Doolittle 6. Fables of Reconstruction 7. Rain Dogs 8. Stone Roses 9 Born in the USA 10 Remain in Light

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 18:12:45

I disagree, madonna and britney have extremely similar careers. Madonna is better, but not by much. Certainly a list of art that does not consider commercial bs or popular opinion would not have any madonna on it.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 18:00:30

^ Two women in the top twenty is "feminist leanings for sake of them"? This list is only slightly less frustratingly white/male/rock than the rest. Cyndi Lauper isn't on the same level as Kate Bush? What level would that be? I could argue that Kate Bush isn't on Cyndi's level. EG's writeup of her album explains why it's great. And Madonna's Like a Prayer is POP ART. I totally agree about Whitney Houston - good thing she's not on the list.

@ostrich The only thing insulting here is your comparing "Madanna" to Britney Spears.

Posted by SlantedEnchanted on 2012-03-09 16:00:30

Todd, you say Slant praises high - brow pop yet Michael Jackson tops the list (over Prince, who is more high - minded and challenging) and Madonna makes the Top 20 and they're most certainly not high brow pop; if they did then Talk Talk's The Colour of the Spring and Cocteau Twins, which are definitely high - brow pop would've ranked much, much higher, like it does in the Polish online magazine Screeners. I know Slant likes to push forward female artists but when they do so in such an exaggerated manner as they do in this list, it comes off as stubborn instead of discerning. I mean, it's entirely possible and it should be acceptable that some of the best music in a given era was made by MALE musicians? Feminist leanings for the sake of them aren't that enlightening. Kate Bush is deserving of her high placement but I just can't put some of the others (Cyndi Lauper? Whitney Houston? Madonna is relatively arguable) on the same level.

And Thriller at the top of the list and over immediate runner - up Prince, almost implying that Michael Jackson rules over Prince, doesn't strike me as progressive or discerning.

Oh well.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 15:40:30

Great list guys! Now, could you please, please, PLEASE do a Top 100 FILMS of the 1990s and 1980s??

Posted by James Callahan on 2012-03-09 13:54:25

I think Synchronicity by The Police should be on this list. C'mon? Every Breath You Take? Wrapped Around Your Finger? King of Pain? Synchronicity II ("Many Miles Away...") I couldn't agree more that Thriller should be number one. In 1983 Thriller spent 22 weeks as number 1 on the charts...Synchronicity spent 17 weeks at number 1...knocking Thriller down twice. Jackson won a Grammy for Album of the Year with Thriller...and The Police took the Grammy for Song of the Year...without Thriller...Synchronicity wins Album of the Year... ...without Forrest Gump...The Shawshank Redemption wins the Oscar for Best Picture... ;o) ...anyway...I think there could have been room on this list...even at number 100 or 99 for an album like Synchronicity, even if the writers at Slant don't like it...there is something to be said about the public liking something...and I think it can be safe to say that the public (American and Global) loved Synchronicity...and simply liked Thriller more that year...if I made an error when I went through the list...I apologize...but if I didn't...I think Synchronicity's absence from this list is unwarranted. There are likely some other albums that others would put on it...but I did appreciated the list overall and the commentary attached.

Posted by Rumpelstiltskin on 2012-03-09 13:47:10

It seems obvious that Slant as a whole prefers pop over rock. In the 90s list of what other magazine would an electronic pop artist land any album higher than OK Computer, God forbid two?! But that's exactly what is so refreshing about the perspective this magazine brings: it serves as a check on the ubiquitous rock - favoring criticisms that have pervaded American journalism for the past several decades. Slant regards high - brow pop, yet pop nonetheless, with the same admiring fervor and artistic respect as most American critics do rock, with subversive and exhilarating results.

@ostrichlover: That's why Daydream Nation is not the number one album on this list. If you want your presumably rock - dominated tastes validated, Pitchfork Media has already got you covered.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 12:50:35

Okay, I have a few quibbles (particularly with the painfully conventional top 20), but there's one particularly egregious omission that cannot go unstated - SWANS!!!

Seriously! I was stunned that a list of the 100 best albums of the 80's composed by serious thinkers could include over - praised mediocrities like the Meat Puppets, REM's "Reckoning" and that horrible Paul Simon record, yet have no room for Swans. To these ears, "Children of God" is flat - out the best underground record of the 80's, and "Cop" a more important/influential/crucial record than poorly - aged derivative crap like Pretty Hate Machine. Excise one of the many safe sacred cow picks that pollute this list (I'm looking at you, "Born in the USA") and give the most visionary American band of the 80's some recognition. Plus, Jarboe ups the female quotient.

Some other great ones you missed, IMO: FYC Raw and Cooked (a more inventive pop record than almost any on this list not made by Prince), American Music Club "California," Dylan "Oh Mercy," and Pet Shop Boys "Please." And if you wanted more women on the list, Bongwater "Double Bummer" - can't get more 80's art/feminism/NYC - downtown - genius than Ann Magnuson.

Good job though, Slant. Top 20 was a mite too lazy/sacred - cow - y, but the rest was interesting.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 12:33:07

This is clearly a good list, although I happen to think Dirty Mind is THE Prince album. My main objection is that The Feelies are nowhere to be found on this list. Admittedly, I have not heard ALL of the titles listed here, but I can not imagine that there were 98 better albums released between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989 than The Feelies's first two. The Good Earth from 1986 is the closest ANY band has ever come to sounding like The Velvet Underground of The Velvet Underground (1969), which is, to my mind, their masterpiece.

Posted by bittertears on 2012-03-09 12:24:20

Daydream Nation and Disintigration are the two best albums of the 80s. hands down, no debate. Everyone knows this.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 10:24:27

These kinds of lists usually suck, which is kind of inevitable because they're so subjective: we'd all come up with a completely different list. But this one surprise me by being mostly OK. I worked in a record store in the 80s, and it's interesting to see some artists who were obscure and strictly cult develop, over 30 years, into a kind of emeritus status. Case in point, even in a big city, college town, etc., I knew NO ONE who knew about Kate Bush except the people I had turned on to her. Most of her albums had not even been released in the US till well into the 80s because her music was considered impossible to market.

The gaps in this list, unless I skimmed too quickly, while few, are pretty egregious: Where's XTC's greatest albums? Skylarking, are you serious? That's almost a post - retirement album. They were hovering over the shark when they made that album. "English Settlement" should be in the top ten - hell, the top 3. Where's Peter Gabriel's "Security"? Where's Billy Idol? Adam Ant? Lene Lovich? Skinny Puppy? Nice to see Grace Jones represented, but seriously, below Janet Jackson?

As far as underrepresentation by women, that's really not the author's fault. Remember it was the eighties female artist vacuum that gave birth to the whole Lilith Faire thing. My friend began a radio show devoted to female artists because they were almost entirely absent from mainstream airwaves, with a tiny handful of obvious exceptions. But nothing near parity.

But it's good to see Beastie Boys so high, and Sonic Youth's multiple entries, and to see Kate Bush in the top ten. Although I would have put "The Dreaming" at No.1.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 09:37:54

Just one more thing: London Calling is a 70s Album. It came out on the first day of the eighties and was alredy out in Europe. It was written, recorded, about, and meant for the seventies. Contextually it makes no sence as an 80s album. Its an 80s album my a mere technicality.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 09:03:51

Thriller might have sold more albums, but in what world and to what kind of legitamate music fan is Thriller a better record than Closer, or Daydream Nation (30 albums are better than Daydream Nation ? Ok!) Also, The River and Tunnel of Love both deserve to be on this list, and not just on it, but ranked fairly high. The Queen is Dead, Disintigration and Daydream Nation should be top five with Pauls Boutique and Closer. Pretty Hate Machine is WAY too high. Theres no way De La Soul is top ten. No Madanna album should be ranked higher than Joy Division, Sonic Youth or the Cure, it insulting. Its like ranking Britney Spears higher than Neutral Milk Hotel or In Utero on a 902 list.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 09:01:19

Thriller at number 1 and Purple Rain being the highest Prince album is plainly predictable. Dirty Mind may not be better than Sign o the Times but it's obviously superior than Purple Rain, its much balanced.

And yet you put Paul's Boutique over Licenced to Ill to show that you know the difference between a real good album and an album that sold over 10million copies.(By the way I dont think Licenced to Ill is better than Paul's Boutique.)

double standard

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-09 07:03:16

Nice top 20 - Hounds of Love beat out Like a Prayer for the top - ranked female solo album. If any album had to beat it, that would be the one.

Thriller at No. 1 isn't surprising.

Thanks for the list, and we'll be looking forward to the songs list sometime in the year. :)

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-09 06:46:30

I'm kinda surprised 'Master of Puppets' is ranked so low, a little disappointed.

Posted by Gabe on 2012-03-08 19:00:00

Yay for the debut Madonna album. It set the template for female pop - dance that came after it. I\'m guessing that Like a Virgin didn\'t make the cut; can\'t imagine it would be in the top 20, with Like a Prayer expected to be in there.

Nice to see Cyndi Lauper\'s album near the top 20. The album actually has received decent notices on best - of lists over the years - as it should, being a landmark album. It\'s too bad she never had anything after it that really left a mark.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-08 09:30:34

Pleasant surprise for True Blue - but, as noted, no denying the greatness of the singles (the title track to a lesser extent, of course).

Which female album will rank highest? Kate Bush's Hounds of Love? Madonna's Like a Prayer?

Prince's first album appears - he had a hand in the Bangles (as writer of "Manic Monday"). He also appeared on Like a Prayer. So, he may end up with four or five of his own efforts on the list.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-07 06:49:41

True, but in terms of music best - of lists in general, male acts - not just male rock acts - that usually dominate the proceedings.

I too expect more female entries on the 80s singles list.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-06 20:58:53

The dudes don't dominate because male criticism is a man's world. They dominate because album - oriented rock - indie or mainstream - was very much a man's world until the early 1990s. Remember the "girls rock" meme? Female - dominated rock was presented to listeners in the early 90s as the primary element that differentiated that decade from prior ones. (Even Eddie Vedder and Kurt Cobain sang songs from women's points of view and wore dresses to establish their bona fides.)

And this list is overcompensating so far - "Private Dancer" is a terrible record with bland session play from The Fixx and Heaven 17 that just happens to have a decent female lead. The Bangles' "All Over the Place" belongs on this list, but "Different Light" is practically all vocals and anonymous studioship. They could play, but they don't on that record.

"The Raincoats," "Wild PLanet," "Hounds of Love," "Suzanne Vega," "Sweet Dreams (are Made of This)," "Learning to Crawl" and "Chomp" are coming up, yes? That will help. And, of course, there would be more women on a Top 80 Singles list.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-06 16:17:46

That's actually not THAT bad in terms of female representation - 16/40. But, I suppose the ratio may get lower as the list continues. Slant also may have meant all - female acts compared to all - male acts when referring to the lack of female acts on the list.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-06 16:13:39

JRHG1: I see your etc., but you might want to actually include all the artists if you want to make your point. So...

Female presence in this list so far (100 - 61):

100. Soul II Soul

98. X

93. The Fall

92. My Bloody Valentine

89. Talking Heads

87. Tom Tom Club

86. The Human League

82. Sonic Youth

78. The Bangles

76. Art of Noise

74. Cocteau Twins

72. Sonic Youth

71. Kate Bush

64. The Pretenders

63. Tina Turner

61. Talking Heads

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-06 11:42:40

Yay for Tina Turner among the lack - of - females lot. And we have some female representation in groups like Sonic Youth, Human League, Talking Heads, etc. But, it's a man's world - especially in music criticism - so it's no surprise that the dudes dominate.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-06 06:17:41

Looking really good so far, and nice to see Soul II Soul in a list with the Fall (as it should be). One thing, and a pretty egregious one for Sonic Youth lovers: "In the Kingdom #19" kicking off EVOL? I've never known it that way..."Tom Violence", yo. BUT that would be quite some way to start the record, if it were so.

Posted by Anonymous on 2012-03-05 17:34:01

At long last. : - )

Prince certainly was prolific in the 80s. Not surprised he has the most entries on the list (and he was THAT good, so it's fitting).

I expect Like a Prayer to be Madonna's top - ranked album (which would be well deserved, as well).

Will the Songs list follow next week, Sal? Thanks.

Posted by JRHG1 on 2012-03-05 13:00:15

I think a case can be made that the 1980s was the last gasp of American pop music as a creative force, instead of just a source of income for media companies. It wouldn't take long before the "college radio" spearheaded by R.E.M. would show its profit potential and attract the interest of international conglomerates.

Thirty years later, four companies own 80% of the U.S. music market with their endless parade of derivative, Edgy - Cute brands trying to pass themselves off as cutting edge. The '80s might have been plastic, day - glo, hairspray, and excess, but at least it wasn't boring.